Do you like seeing the trick plays?

[n1997y]

I like them. They’re fun for the players, they’re fun to watch, they work well enough often enough to help the offense move down the field in chunks, and they keep the defense off balance both in that game and in the future. What’s not to like?

 

[PScottman]

Keeps the defense honest

One of the issues that posters brought up repeatedly was "how do the Patriots get teams to back players off the line so the run game can start to pick up?"

Exhibit A. (not the only thing, but a contributor)

Add in the OL now giving the QB time to find the open WRs and TEs and viola suddenly there's more of a running game again. Complimentary football.

 

[farn]

The goal is to score. One way scoring happens : to fool the adversary.

A change up is a good way of striking out a batter. You don’t need to make an out on a 99 mph fastball for it to count.

 

[Wax Frog]

we need more trick plays... completely underdeveloped playbook in the area of special teams...

I'm fond of fake FGs myself, can't recall the last time I saw one.

 

[Schmo]

One of the issues that posters brought up repeatedly was "how do the Patriots get teams to back players off the line so the run game can start to pick up?"

Exhibit A. (not the only thing, but a contributor)

Add in the OL now giving the QB time to find the open WRs and TEs and viola suddenly there's more of a running game again. Complimentary football.

Specifically, we've had problems with the screen pass when the secondary can crash down on the receiver. Having a non-qb throw the ball keeps the cb/s glued 10-20 yards downfield. People talk about wrs stretching the defense vertically by being fast, but those plays stretch the defense laterally as well.

I may be assuming too much, as I haven't examined the plays more closely, but that Bourne throw (successful or not) very well could have opened up the Bolden screen plays.

I say run them consistently (2 or 3 times a game). Keep them rehearsed and low risk, and it's a great way for the playcalling to positively affect the game.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'm fond of fake FGs myself, can't recall the last time I saw one.

04 vs the Rams is my last memory of one

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I'm fond of fake FGs myself, can't recall the last time I saw one.

Now that teams are using punters as holders instead of QBs, fake field goals have declined.

Of course if you have Tom Tupa, you’ve got both. I seem to recall a few with him.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Yes, when they work.

 

[Huckleberry1]

What they did to the Ravens will always be among my favorite Patriot memories. Once was great, twice was hilarious and completely humiliating for the Ravens. Doesn’t get much better than that.

 

[Tunescribe]

We don’t win SB 49 without some trick plays leading up to it.

 

[PScottman]

I'm fond of fake FGs myself, can't recall the last time I saw one.

The interesting aspect to me is with all the rule changes forcing rushers outside on field goals the middle must be an area that could be exploited.

 

[Lavictoire]

What they did to the Ravens will always be among my favorite Patriot memories. Once was great, twice was hilarious and completely humiliating for the Ravens. Doesn’t get much better than that.

That was Belichick manufacturing a win. Brady doubled down afterward by advising whiny Harbaugh to learn the rule book. (Might have led to deflategate though.)

 

[borg]

Having trick plays already in the books and on tape just might give edge rushers pause if the same pre-snap horizontal movement in the NE backfield is emulated.
Same look==>new play==>more time==>MacBomb==>

 

[Kontradiction]

I like them in the postseason. I don’t like seeing them before we’ve even hit the halfway mark of the season.

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

Deception is huge so I do like the trick plays. I get that they are running them more often to put it on film and have defenses have to prepare for more. Personally I like them when the offense needs a spark or we have a defense rocking on it's heels...sort of the sucker punch to gain total momentum (Edelman to Amendola ish )

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

trick play on 3rd and one when you already know you are gong to go for it on 4th down, yes.

The onside kick when they were already up by 2 TDs against the Eagles a few years ago, NO!

 

[SouthernPatriot]

I love Flea Flickers, I don't really know why, but I just think they are fun!

 

[borg]

I love Flea Flickers, I don't really know why, but I just think they are fun!

From SI.com: “The play and its name are both credited to legendary University of Illinois coach Bob Zuppke, who intended the phrase to evoke the quick, flicking action of a dog getting rid of fleas.” According to Coach Zuppke, he introduced the flea flicker while coaching at Oak Park High School in 1910.

 

[sb1]

This was cool. Surprised more teams don't try this.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

This was cool. Surprised more teams don't try this.

The Patriots tried this in Super Bowl 51. Everyone was fooled except for one gunner and, surprisingly, the camera man.